Shooting damages businesses

Police investigate late August shooting

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An Aug. 21 shooting damaged windows at three Georgetown businesses on South Bailey Street including the Bank of America and El Pirata Tortas. / Photos by Steve Lannen

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(UPDATED: This story was updated Aug. 28 with information about the parties promoted at 1215 S. Bailey. This story was again updated Sept. 11 to include statements issued from the Georgetown Event Center manager.)

Seattle Police are investigating a late-night shooting in Georgetown last week that caused damage to nearby cars and three businesses.

No injuries were reported, a police spokesman later said. 

Early Friday, Aug. 21, a witness told emergency dispatchers they saw someone fire a gun from the passenger seat of a black sedan driving south on 13th Avenue S.

When police arrived on scene, passersby told them they thought a shooting occurred at 6113 12th Ave. S near the Interstate 5 underpass and South Harney Street. There, officers found cartridge casings and unspent rounds. Three nearby vehicles were struck by bullets, according to a police report.

Around the corner at the intersection of South Bailey Street and Ellis Avenue, police found three businesses damaged by gunfire: Bank of America, El Pirata Tortas and The Lighting Group.

As of Wednesday afternoon, all had plywood covering portions of their windows damaged by gunfire.

The owner of El Pirata, Pedro Degollado, said he counted at least nine bullet holes in his shop windows and in the windows directly above. Fired rounds broke the glass doors of both his food and beverage refrigerators and damaged his Internet. Broken glass covered the computers and floors. He estimates it will cost more than $10,000 to make repairs and replacements.

The shop was closed at the time of the shooting and opened for only the second half of Friday, Degollado said.  

“If something happened during service hours, they definitely could have killed someone,” he said.

The motive and events surrounding the shooting are unclear. In the 11 p.m. hour of Thursday night, Aug. 20, dispatchers received reports of people pushing and shoving each other at a venue in the 1200 block of South Bailey Street. About 12:15 a.m., someone reported hearing about 15 gunshots nearby. Later on, dispatchers took an unconfirmed report of a man with a gun at a party on Bailey Street. Then, the reported shooting occurred a little before 2 a.m. at 13th Avenue S and South Bailey.

It is unconfirmed if the shooter(s) attended the party or were at the venue.

The police report contained a description of the alleged shooter: A thin man in his late 20s, about 5 feet 3 inches tall, with black hair and a black hoodie with the words “North End Gang.”

For several months late at night, Degollado said he has seen young people in the driveway next to the BRO 502 barber shop. This reporter has also seen people congregating late at night in the Bank of America parking lot and in the lot between South Bailey and South Angelo streets behind the block with the barber shop.

“I always see young people on the weekends" after 10 p.m., Degollado said. "I was always wondering, 'Why are people hanging out there?'”

In February, the Georgetown Event Center held its grand opening at 1215 S. Bailey St. On its Facebook account, videos show a range of events from EDM raves and salsa dancing to an Angolan independence day celebration. One post claimed it is the "Only place in Seattle you can find an after" party.

Noise from some of the parties has been a problem for nearby neighbors. Heavy bass vibrates Laura Wright's house sometimes until 3 a.m. Other times, attendees bring the party out to the parking lots screaming and playing music from their car stereos.

"There is a very short window of quiet at night because we live under a flight path and now, we are losing it to this event space," Wright said.

Seattle's noise ordinance sets quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and decibel limits for noise in residential areas, with specific rules for amplified sound.

King County property records show Lisa M Miller owns the building. The manager of the Georgetown Event Center inside is Arrington Miller. When contacted, Arrington Miller did not respond to calls and texts asking for an interview but did issue a statement over email. In it, he stressed the shooting did not occur on the property. He added that every event has security guards and patrons are subject to pat-downs and wand screening. As for noise concerns, he wrote that the venue is working with the City of Seattle to ensure compliance with requirements.

"We certainly understand the importance of being respectful of our neighbors and the surrounding community, and that remains a priority for us," he wrote.

An advertisement on Instagram posted Aug. 18 promoted an Aug. 20 party at the venue scheduled from 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. with a $10 admission. The ad was posted from the account @pulsurparties. The same account also promoted past parties in July and August at addresses in South Park and Sodo. The ad included a Snapchat handle for @TAJPPROMOS. The account promoted a "Charlie Kirk Anniversary Party" with lookalike contest on Sunday, Sept. 13.

The Gazette reached out to @pulsurparties to ask about the shooting. A person replying from the account wrote, "The party, organizers, owners, security had nothing to do with it."

Georgetown Business Association Director Debra Broz said she was in contact with city officials to request extra Seattle police patrols. She said she was told that police will only investigate if they receive six call or more about a complaint such as noise. To report an active noise complaint, call SPD's non-emergency line 206-625-5011, press 8.

The Gazette reached out to @pulsurparties for comment about the shooting. A person replying from the account wrote, "The party, organizers, owners, security had nothing to do with it."